Submitted by sjc313 on Thu, 08/05/2025 - 10:13
Research led by Dr Ben Bowers and Dr Louisa Polak, PELiCam (pictured above), have explored how reshaping collaboration between GPs and community nurses is having mixed implications for palliative care.
The study, published in the British Journal of General Practice, found community nurses described how they are increasingly extending their roles, taking more responsibility for person-centred care including complex symptom control decisions and having ‘difficult’ conversations. While expanding the scope of their responsibilities allows community nurses to provide more comprehensive care, the study found that managing complex medical care still requires timely GP input.
Remote communication with colleagues was seen as creating obstacles to nurses’ everyday collaboration with GPs, damaging important working relationships. Where workforce diversification led to delegating home visits to GP-based paramedics or nurse practitioners, community nurses described feeling a lack of the “GP back-up” that many identified as essential for community palliative care.
Polak L, Pollock K, Barclay S, Bowers B. How do GPs' new ways of working affect community nurses? A qualitative study. Br J Gen Pract. 2025 Jan 29: https://bjgp.org/content/early/2025/01/28/BJGP.2024.0534.long
Read more here: How do GPs’ new ways of working affect community nurses? A qualitative study | Department of Public Health and Primary Care (PHPC)